Indian BrahMos Missile Strike Hit Pakistani F-16s in Their Hangars

Indian Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh has reported that BrahMos cruise missile strikes were launched against Pakistani air bases during clashes in early May, and hit an additional surveillance plane and “a few F-16” fighters parked in hangars at two facilities. His statement provides new insight into the targets of Indian attacks under Operation Sindoor on May 7-10, during which the Indian Air Force lost an estimated five fighters in air-to-air combat including one to four Rafale jets, which were reportedly shot down by Pakistan’s new Chinese-supplied J-10C fighters. It remains unknown whether Indian fighters achieved any kills against airborne Pakistani fighters, as while Indian Defence Ministry sources have claimed that five Pakistani fighters were shot down, the large majority of these were attributed to the Russian S-400 long range air defence system, leaving it uncertain which assets achieved the remaining kills. While video footage has emerged confirming Pakistani successes in neutralising Indian fighters, however, no evidence of Indian successes either in shooting down enemy aircraft or in striking air bases has been presented.

Pakistan first procured F-16s in the 1980s, although they were considered far outmatched by India’s Soviet supplied MiG-23ML and MiG-29 fighters at the time due to their total lack of beyond visual range targeting capabilities. The American fighters were modernised in the mid-2010s and integrated AIM-120 active radar guided air-to-air missiles which significantly improved their capabilities and enabled beyond visual range targeting. The entry into service of advanced ‘4+ generation’ fighters in both India and Pakistan, however, including the Indian Su-30MKI and Rafale, and the Pakistani JF-17 Block 3 and J-10C, has left the the F-16 fleet effectively obsolete for high end air-to-air engagements. The aircraft’s role in Pakistan’s defence doctrine has thus diminished considerably. The United States sought to market the F-16 to India in the late 2010s, including a heavily enhanced variant that was re-designated the F-21 for sales purposes. India’s lack of interest in the aircraft led President Donald Trump to offer to supply the F-35 fighter to the country in February 2025, although the offer was rejected by Indian officials in July.